Shaping tomorrow's factory
Date: 21 April
Time: 14:00 - 14:30
Location: MACH 2026 Halls 17, 18, 19, 20 & 6 - NEC Birmingham B40 1NT
Prepare your factory for future growth by making better use of your existing assets and capabilities across all stages of your operation.
In a competitive and evolving manufacturing environment, maintaining current performance may not be sufficient. This panel focuses on practical ways manufacturers can improve efficiency, increase output, and support sustainable growth, while making informed use of existing resources and investments.
Join industry practitioners and peers to explore approaches to improving the performance of equipment, processes, and the workforce. Alongside operational improvements, the sessions will consider how skills development, inclusive practices, and diverse perspectives - including gender and neurodiversity - can support productivity and innovation on the shop floor.
Our Host
Dan Thombs
CEO, Automate UKDan Thombs, Chief Executive Officer of Automate UK, is a multi-award-winning business leader with a proven track record of delivering growth, profitability, and market leadership across the automation and advanced manufacturing sector. Having led organisations as Managing Director, Chief Commercial Officer, and Executive Consultant, he brings both deep technical credibility and strategic leadership. A Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Dan is playing a leading role in shaping national engagement in automation and accelerating industrial productivity across the UK.
Our Panel
Rose Sargent
EDI Lead, Make UKRose Sargent is the EDI Lead and an employment and skills policy adviser in for Make UK’s policy directorate. She was recently recognised as MEPCA’s Manufacturing Champion (March 2026) and awarded a place on TAF’s ’30 Under 30’ List for women in trade associations. She was instrumental in the organisation and reporting of Make UK’s Industrial Strategy Skills Commission, which focused on issues with the Apprenticeship Levy and wider skills system for the manufacturing sector, and this year will focus on delivering the industry-led Equality Taskforce called for in the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan.
Carl Milbourne
Group Operations Director, SertecWith over 30 years’ experience in automotive manufacturing, including 15 years in senior leadership roles, Carl has built his career from operator to Group Operations Director within a leading Tier 1 Automotive Manufacturer. He has progressed through every level of the business, gaining deep, practical insight into what truly drives performance. Carl is passionate about people and believes strong leadership is fundamental to delivering results. He focuses on building capable, engaged teams, setting clear expectations, and empowering individuals to take ownership. Alongside this people first approach, he is a strong advocate of operational excellence, Total Quality Management, and the disciplined use of robust systems and standards. By combining strong leadership, continuous improvement, and well embedded operating frameworks, Carl strives to deliver sustainable performance, reliability, and competitiveness.
Get in touch
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